manti te'o inspired countless fans when he led notre dame to an epic winning season after the tragic death of his longtime girlfriend. that is until they learned she was a figment of someone's imagination. but who? josh elliot has the latest. >> reporter: it seemed like a tragic love story. >> the most beautiful girl i've ever met. not because of her physical beauty but the beauty of her character, who she is. >> reporter: this is manti te'o in october talking about the girlfriend whom he believed had just died. >> and all of a sudden it hits. silence. that silence really eats at you. >> reporter: until wednesday, te'o, notre dame's all-american linebacker and heisman finalist, was the focus of the most inspiring college football story of the year. now questions arise. is the star athlete the victim of a mysterious and elaborate hoax as he says, or was he a part of it all along? te'o was known for his big hits on the field. and his big heart off of it. his story of overcoming the loss of his grandmother and then his girlfriend lennay kekua within hours of each other last fall, even f